Tire-grip.



A. F. BERGIN.

TIRE GRIP. APPLICATION FILED 0OT.24. 1910.

Patented Aug. 15 19 11.

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. awumtoz fl .Ffierycm A. I. BERGIN.

TIRE GRIP.

APPLICATION FILED 00124. 1910.

- Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

a. h M 4 ANDREW F. BERGIN, OF HOWELL, MICHIGAN.

TIRE-GRIP.

Specificatidn of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

Application filed October 24, 1910. Serial No. 588,815.

I To all ivhom it may concern:

a citizen of the Be it known that I, ANDREW F. BERGIN, United States, residing at Howell, in the county of Livingston and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tire- Grips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention comprehends certain newand useful improvements in surface gripping devices for use on the pneumatic or cushion tires of automobiles, motor trucks, motor cycles, or other vehicles, and the invention has for its primary object an improved tire grip which, is simple, durable and light in construction, -which may be readily applied to the tire of a wheel, and which is quite eflicien't in operation and firmly engages the road surface to prevent slipping and skidding. And the invention has for a further object an improved construction of anti-slipping device of this character embodying an improved construction and arrangement of snow lugs designed for use particularly where a road is frozen over and covered with snow. 7 1

With these and other objects in view as will more fully appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully descr'loeand claim.

For a fu understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following de scription and acgmpapying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a portion of .a tire grip constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan View thereof; Fig, 3 is a transverse sectional view; Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a modification; and, Figs.,5 to 10 are detail perspective views of different forms of prongs.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in' the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My improved tire grip is designed to encircle the tire of a vehicle 'wheel and to be held thereon by the inherent construction of the device without devices binding the grip to the tire or felly of the wheel, and said grip embodies any desired number of links A which havea jointed connection with each other and which initially or in an'inoperative position, compose a linked structure of any desired length according to the circumference of the tire for which "it is designed, the links being of any desired size and of any desired width, according to the particular requirements of the case.

I In the practical embodiment of the invention, each of the links A embodies a cross bar 1 which may be either curved or straight, as shown, side bars 2 that are preferably inwardly bowed to any desired curvature and of any desired length, tangential extensions 3 projecting parallel to each other and preferably straight, and substantially outwardly projecting radial prongs 4 which.

may be blunt or sharpened attheir outer extremities, as desired. The side bars 2 are preferably integrally joined to the cross bars 1 and are also preferably integrally joined, with one or more coils 5 to the extensions 3. In the assembled relation of the parts, the crossbar of one link A extends through the coils 5- of an adjacent link,

whereby to pivotally connect the links together, and the prongs 4 of one link project outwardly around the cross bar 1 of the next link but one, so that the extension bars limit the pivotal movement of the links relative to each other, it being understood that in the preferred construction of the, parts the links are of spring wire of the requisite thickness and strength to possess the characteristic of resiliency. In the applied position of the parts, the links extend circumferentially around the tire to which the de vice is applied and are held thereon by the engagement of the side members 2 with the opposite side faces of the tire, a complete circle being formed and the two ends of the linked structure being connected together by a pin or bolt 6 which may be provided with a cotteror otherwise held in place, said pin constituting the cross bar of one link, and extending through the coils 5 of an adjacent link.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be understood that in the practical use of a tire equipped with a grip structure in accordance with my invention, the prongs 4 will penetrate the road surface and obtain the desired grip thereon to elfectually prevent any slipping of the wheels or skidding of the vehicle.

- snow lugs, one of which is designated 8 in Fig. 4:, said snow lugs embodying plates 9 that may be secured to the extension bars of the links in any desired way so as to rest on the tread surface of the tire, and also embodying outwardly turned transversely extending and preferably pointed'spurs 10" to dig into the packed snow and thus secure the proper grip on the road surface. The

snow lugs are provided with side flanges 11 engaging the extension bars 3. Each spur is formed in its side edges with inwardly facing shoulders 12 that bear against the adjacent extension bars 3 in order to brace thespur against inward displacement.

Reference is to be had to Figs. 5 to 10, to show some of the different forms of prong which may be used. In the first of these forms, the prong is illustrated as having a s ur point; in the seco-nd, asquare point; in the third, a claw point; in the fourth a'stub point; in the fifth a chisel point; and in the sixth a rudder point, the latter being prefe ably used for the front or steering wheels of a vehicle.

It is to beunderstood that my invention'is not limited to any number of links, or size thereof, nor to the use of tread plates or' snow lugs, and that various changes may be made in the construction, arrangement and proportion of the, parts without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the'ap-pended claims.

Having thus-described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

, 1. A tire grip including a series of connecting links, each link comprising a cross bar side bars projectin from the cross bar an pivotally connecte to the cross bar of the adjacent link, and extension bars projecting longitudinally from the side bars beyond said pivotal points. and adapted to bear against the cross bar of the next link but one, to limit the movement of said pivotally connected links.

2. A tire grip including a series of connected links, each link comprising a cross bar, side bars projecting from the cross bar and pivotally connected to the cross bar of the adjacent link, extension bars projecting longitudinally ,from' the side bars beyond said pivotal points and passing underneath the cross bar of the next link but one, and

Copies of this patent may be obtained for I prongs projecting outwardly I first-named cross bar and said pivotal points from the free ends of the extension bars. 3'. A tire grip including a series of con-' nected links, each link comprising a cross bar, side bars projecting from the cross bar and pivotally connected to the cross bar of the adjacent link, extension bars projecting longitudinally from the side bars beyon said pivotal points, and a plate secured to and extending between the extension bars and adapted to bear against the periphery of the tire within said adjacent link.-

4'. A tire grip including a series of con- .nected links, each link comprising a cross ,bar, side bars'projecting from the cross bar -and pivotally connected to the crossbar of the next, adjacent link, the portions of the side bars between the first-named cross bar and said pivotal points being correspondingly bowed inwardly to obtain abroad bearing against the opposite sides of the tire, extension bars projecting longitudi-.-

nally from the side bars beyond said pivotal points, and a plate secured to and connecting the extension bars and adapted to bear against the periphery of the tire between the bowed side bars of the adjacent link.-

5. A tire grip. comprising a series of connected links, each link consisting ofa straight cross bar and side bars projecting from. the crossbar and pivotally connected to the cross bar of the next adjacent link, the portions of the side bars'between the being correspondingly bowed inwardly to sidesof the tire.

6., A tire grip including'a link having spaced side bars, and a plate extending beobtain a broad bearing against the opposite .tweeri and having its side edges secured to the side bars, one end portion of the plate belng bent angularly outwardly to constitute an engaging spur, the spur being-- formed in its side edges with shoulders faclngtoward and bearing against the respective side bars.

7.. link for tire grips comprising a cross nbar, side bars projecting from the cross bar and having their terminals angularly dis-.

the side members being formed approxi- I posed to constitute road-engaging prongs,

mately midway between the prongs and the crossbar with transversely alining journal five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

